BELAIR:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams attended the official opening of the National Institute of the Arts at the Belair Community Center on Saturday. The National Institute of Arts provides arts education for both amateurs and professionals focusing on national and international recognized interdisciplinary art education inspired by the principals of nation building.
"I would like to congratulate all of those involved in realizing this official opening of the National Institute of Arts. I have said previously and will reiterate that I believe the arts and the development of the arts play a key role in the building of this nation and this country. With this institution now in place there is a center for the professional development of art in not only our youth but for the whole community and I think, again, that this is central to any development of a nation," stated the PM.
The National Institute of the Arts is a merger between the Imbali and Motiance Dance schools and features four departments: The Department of Dance under the direction of Arlene Halley, the Department of Music under the direction of La-Vaune Henry, the Department of Drama under the direction of Loes Nauta and the Department of Musical Theatre under the direction of Clara Reyes.
"Again I would like to commend and congratulate the NIA on this very important achievement," concluded the Prime Minister.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister